To mark this year's 'World Environment Day' (June 5th), Vale of Clwyd MP Dr James Davies is backing the Government to secure an ambitious set of targets to restore nature at the UN’s summit on biodiversity later this year, known as COP15.
World Environment Day is the biggest international day for the environment. Led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and held annually since 1973, the event has grown to be the largest global platform for environmental outreach, with millions of people from across the world engaging to protect the planet.
To promote World Environment Day, James has produced a video emphasising that "In the universe are billions of galaxies, in our galaxy are billions of planets, but there is only one earth."
He said:
"Nature is in long term decline, with 1 million animal and plant species currently facing extinction. This poses a significant threat to both our food security and economic prosperity because we are reliant on the services nature provides, like the pollination of crops.
"A recent government review found that in the medium to long term, environmental pressures like crashing wildlife populations and climate change are the biggest threats to our food security.
"When able to thrive, nature delivers countless benefits for individuals, communities and society at large. For example, if everyone had good access to nature, it is estimated we could save the NHS £2.1 billion every year, because time spent in nature is proven to improve physical and mental health.
"Nature loss even threatens our national security because its impacts, like poor harvests and more intense flooding, could drive instability, migration, and poverty.
"For all of these reasons, we must tackle climate change and biodiversity loss.
"I am proud, therefore, that the UK Government has led by example on nature’s recovery. Our landmark Environment Act set the world’s first legal deadline to halt nature’s decline by 2030, along with greater ambition for tackling plastic pollution. Recognising the threat to food security, the government is also reforming farm payments through the Environmental Land Management Schemes to reward farmers in England for restoring nature alongside food production. The Prime Minister has also promised to protect 30% of land for nature by 2030. We need to see the Welsh Government pursue similar objectives.
"As the UK negotiators head to the UN biodiversity summit in China this autumn, their task is to go global with our domestic nature targets by securing:
1. A global commitment to protect 30% of land and seas for nature by 2030
2. A global target to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030
"Along with colleagues in the Conservative Environment Network, I’m backing the UK to lead the way in securing a healthy natural environment for future generations."
